Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Support Group

I developed high blood pressure and high chloresterol while I had group insurance through my job. I decided to change jobs and the new job didn't offer group insurance. When I tried to get private insurance I couldn't because I had developed the blood pressure and choloresterol problems before I applied for it. Those conditions were there before (pre-existed) my acceptance by the insurance company. I had to go back to my old job to have insurance. Anything you've been diagnosed with before you apply for insurance is pre-existing. Insurance companies can and do turn you down if you have a pre-existing diagnosis that puts you at risk for health problems. Hope this helps.

P.S.
If you have a job that offers group health insurance you can get coverage but any medical problems that crops up because of your pre-existing conditions may or may not be covered for the first couple of years. Depends on your state laws, I think. Hopefully the insurance companies won't be able to exclude people like that pretty soon.

I have mixed feelings. I am happy that people with preexisting conditions will get covered. I am really unhappy about 400 billion in cuts to medicare and the fact that the public option is projected to cost more in premiums than private insurance.

I'm from the UK and we have no "political agenda" to mis-report this. The BBC reported that three quarters of people currently not covered will now have access to healthcare. Insurance companies will not be able to exclude "pre-existing conditions"
.WELL DONE. I THINK THIS IS INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT AND I HOPE IT MEANS THAT THE USA WILL NOW JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD IN PROVIDING THE BEST HEALTHCARE IT CAN TO ALL ITS CITIZENS. Even if it's a long process and imperfect at first, I truly hope it does what it was certainly intended to do.

Bifocaled kind of summed it up. Right now, each state regulates health insurance companies, so the pre existing definition statutes can vary state by state and then it will depend on what type of insurance you have, ie small or large employer insurance or an individual plan, which what I think bifocaled was referring to in regards to "private insurance." Assessing pre existing conditions is a way for insurance companies to manage risk.

I have mixed feelings too, as I work for a health insurance company. I do see the need for reform with regards to the uninsured. I just don't know if such a big budgeted, convoluted bill, one that forces people to purchase insurance, is the best way to go. I doubt the legislature will read the bill in any sort of detail before they vote on it. I am so skeptical of politicians, regardless of the issue.